End of a Nightmare!!

THE SPIDER-WOMAN — Issue No. 6, June 1978

Chance Shirley

Feb 22, 2023

Book: The Spider-Woman

Issue No.: 6

Published: June 6, 1978

Title: “End of a Nightmare!!”

Cover Price: 35¢

Format: Original paper copy

Sigh.

If you’ve read any of my previous posts about Spider-Woman (like this one or this one), you know I’m pulling for this book. It’s got a cool, mysterious lead character and a good creative team (Marv Wolfman! Carmine Infantino! John Costanza on letters!). And the first issue I read (no. 2) was weird and fun.

Well, I guess this issue is weird at least. And it brings back the bad gal from issue no. 2, Morgan Le Fay (yes, the same Morgan Le Fay of Arthurian legend). But it just isn’t that fun.

For starters, Werewolf by Night (a character who got a pretty neat Disney+ TV movie not too long ago) is hyped on the cover. Oh that could be fun! And the Werewolf does show up in this story. But he is unconscious for most of the story! Seriously. And yet, somehow, for some reason, he narrates the story. Like, how would he know any of this happened, as he was out cold for 90% of the action?

Three panels from this issue. Panel one shows Jerry Hunt showing up and saying to Spider-Woman "I've been hunting you for weeks. I'm not going to -- wha--? What in the world is going on?" Spider-Woman says "I -- I don't think I could explain it, not to you... and maybe not even to me." In the second panel, Spider-Woman says "Only thing I'm sure of is, somehow, I've got to help Magnus -- anyway I can!" Spider-Woman fires a green venom blast at Morgan Le Fay. In the third panel Morgan Le Fay says "You little fool! Your powers cannot effect that which is not truly there. But still, I thank you for reminding me --"

And then there’s this SHIELD agent, Jerry Hunt, who is obsessed with Spider-Woman since he caught a glimpse of her when she was in England. He busts in on the action with Spider-Woman, her sorcerer friend Magnus, Morgan Le Fay, and the Werewolf. And Jerry tells Spider-Woman, hey, I know you’re busy, but I am obsessed with you and I think I love you. And Spider-Woman’s initial reaction is reasonable, she’s like, dude, you don’t know me, you’re being super creepy. But then at the end of the book (after Morgan is sent back to olden times and the day is saved), Spider-Woman and creepy Jerry start making out!

I just don’t understand these creative choices, y’all. But I will continue to root for this book, even though I can only assume it will continue to disappoint me.

Sigh.

Hey, on the bright side, I found a cheap copy of this issue at a cool comic con in New Orleans last month, so at least I got to read a real paper copy.

But still.

Sigh.

Next time — Godzilla continues his battle with the alien Mega-Monsters!

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